Low methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage rate among Italian dental students

S. Petti, N. Kakisina, C.M.C. Volgenant, G.A. Messano, E. Barbato, C. Passariello, J.J. de Soet

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

We assessed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage rate among dental students from an Italian university. A total of 157 subjects participated (67 preclinical students and 90 clinical students); samples were collected from the nose, mouth, and skin. Five preclinical students and 0 clinical students were MRSA-positive. Carriage rates were 3.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4%-6.0%) overall, 7.5% (95% CI, 1.2%-13.8%) in preclinical students and 0% in clinical students. There were 2 MRSA clusters among the preclinical students: 3 second-year and 2 first-year students, who sat close to one another in the classroom the day of the sample. MRSA carriage was not associated with dental health care. The pooled carriage rate among dental students was assessed to obtain a reliable figure of carriage rate unaffected by local conditions. The 4 published surveys were pooled, and the fixed-effects method was used. Among the 484 dental students, the pooled carriage rate was 4.1% (95% CI, 2.4%-5.8%).
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e89-e91
JournalAmerican Journal of Infection Control
Volume43
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Low methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage rate among Italian dental students'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this